Brighton look to capitalise on a run of back-to-back games at AMEX Stadium when they host Bournemouth this weekend. This match is one of the best opportunities for Brighton to move away from the bottom three with the team only holding a five-point advantage over Cardiff. Bournemouth are just two points away from reaching the 40 point mark, as Eddie Howe fights to keep his team motivated until the end of the campaign. Follow all our predictions, odds, free bets and betting tips below.
Brighton were knocked out of the FA Cup after a 1-0 loss against Manchester City in the semifinals. This was the third successive loss for Brighton in all competitions.
Bournemouth suffered a double at the hands of Burnley after a 3-1 defeat at the Vitality Stadium during the weekend. Bournemouth performance in the match was a typical end-of-the-season affair and the team has now conceded seven goals in the last two matches against Burnley.
The recent game between these two clubs was in the FA Cup when Brighton secure a 3-1 victory in the third round back in January. The reverse fixture between Brighton and Bournemouth produced a 2-0 win for the Cherries at the Vitality Stadium, but the Seagulls were reduced to 10 men in the game. The recent meeting between the two teams at the AMEX Stadium produced a 2-2 draw. Our betting tips and predictions would pick up a victory for Brighton.
Brighton have lost three successive matches and Chris Hughton's men have every reason to fear relegation coming into this match. However, they are up against a Bournemouth outfit that has looked very poor for the last few months. Since November, the Cherries have picked up only 18 points and they would have been in the relegation zone if not for a good start to the season. After Brighton's exit from the FA Cup, the team will give full concentration on the league. Our preview would go with a win for Brighton.
The Seagulls have been unable to score in the last three matches across all competitions, but the AMEX Stadium continues to play a key part in the fight against relegation. Brighton have conceded twice the number of goals in away games than they have conceded at home. Bournemouth have lacked confidence and motivation in recent weeks. Our correct score prediction would go with a 2-0 win for Brighton.
There have been goals at both ends of the pitch in just two of the last six matches at the AMEX Stadium. This combined with Bournemouth's struggle for goals – three goals in the last six away games – makes our total goals prediction go with under 2.5 goals.
Glen Murray leads the scoring charts at Brighton with 11 league goals, but he has not scored in more than a month. Murray specialised in scoring at home earlier in the campaign but the 35-year-old has not scored at AMEX Stadium since December. Even then, our first goalscorer prediction would stick with Murray considering that the likes of Florin Andone have not been regular starters.